Swann Auctions' 19th and 20th Century Literature Auction
Swann Auctions of New York have a well represented auction of modern literature at 13:30 on the 1st of October. Highlights of the lots include:
An Early Edition of Jane Austen's Emma, printed by John Murray in 1816. With an estimate of $5000-$700.
Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, presented in the signed, numbered edition published in a series by Grove Press in 1970 with a limitation of 200 copies.
One of the highlights of science fiction; the Johns-Manville Asbestos limited edition of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. This edition, the Johns. This book has a good estimate of $4000-$6000, though copies have been seen for sale for two or three times this amount. This particular copy is numbered 8 and has an extra inscription to Herb Yellin, his publisher at Lord John Press. There is also a signed edition of the same book, in what looks like good to very good condition with a nice signature and a perhaps high estimate of $3000-$4000.
Perhaps the highlight of auction is a complete set of Andrew Lang's Fairy Books (the Rainbow Fairy Books). All 12 volumes appear to be in good condition, though lacking dustjackets. An admirable collection with an estimate of $5000-$7500 though it would not be surprising if these realised more.
A couple of T.S. Eliot's most collectible issues of The Waste Land are for sale also, including on of the 460 copies printed by Woolf's Hogarth Press and a copy of the 1961 signed, numbered edition from Faber. Both books estimated around the $4000 mark.
Also included is a worn copy of Frank Herbert's Dune, First US Edition, which has a high estimate of $1500 to $2500.
Not that rare a book as far as copies to auction are concerned, but one of the most desirable first editions - James Joyce's Ulysses with an estimate of $35,000 to $45,000. This is copy 679 of 750 with provenance as being from Joan Whitney's collection (assumedly that is Joan Whitney Payson).
A beautiful set of Theodore Roosevelt's Works is up for sale too, being one of 1050 copies (this being number 41) published as a memorial edition in 1911.
Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita and Pnin also make a welcome appearance, both are expected to raise around $5000.
One cannot omit from the highlights Oscar Wilde's The Ballad of Reading Gaol one of 99 signed copies, this being number 16. This is expected to realise $10,000 - $15,000.
Next to this is one of the 250 copies of The Picture of Dorian Gray, again signed by Wilde. Perhaps with the recent hype this will reach the strong estimate of $8,000 - $12,000.
Other notables are Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire ($5000-$7500), Mrs. Dalloway ($10,000-$150000) and To The Lighthouse ($6000-$9000) by Virginia Woolf.
Also included in this auction are a large number of George Cruikshank, Charles Dickens and William Faulkner books (including the limited edition of Hamlet).
An interesting one to watch is Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana, a very good copy which has an estimate of $400-$600, with copies regularly selling for the $100 mark and much less it will be interesting to see if this copy sells.
This is a highly anticipated auction, and certainly one to watch. In the current financial climate it will be interesting to see whether these books reach their estimates. Keep checking as an auction report will be made available as soon as possible. To see the rest of the catalogue at the Swann Galleries site, click here.
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